VILLAGE BOARD AUTHORIZES SUBMISSION OF TEA GRANT APPLICATIONS FOR FUNDS TO WIDEN STATE HIGHWAY 165 TO FOUR LANES WEST OF TERWALL TERRACE

On Monday, February 1, the Pleasant Prairie Village Board authorized village staff to submit applications to the Wisconsin Department of Transportation for Transportation Economic Assistance (TEA). The grant applications are related to a project that would widen State Highway 165 between Terwall Terrace and Corporate Drive.

The project calls for the expansion of Highway 165 from two lanes to four lanes in an area adjacent to and west of Prairie Springs Park. The project would include an additional bridge crossing the Des Plaines River.

Wisconsin's TEA program provides financial assistance to municipalities to develop transportation facilities required to enable industrial development. Village Administrator Michael Pollocoff explained, "Given the financial demands this project would place on the Village of Pleasant Prairie, the award of TEA grants is an essential component to the project's viability. Without the grant assistance, the project will not move forward."

Total project costs for the expansion of Highway 165 are currently estimated to be $6.5 million. If awarded, one TEA grant at $500,000 on behalf of Meijer, Inc. and another at $500,000 on behalf Niagara Bottling, LLC would be used to help fund the improvements. Pleasant Prairie's TIF District #2 would match each grant for a total of $1 million towards the project. The State of Wisconsin's Road Improvement Fund would provide the remaining amount. Meijer, Inc. operates a warehouse and distribution center and Niagara Bottling, LLC operates a bottling and distribution facility in the Village of Pleasant Prairie.

Should TEA grants be awarded for this project, the Village would sign a related jobs guarantee with the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) representing the 75 jobs pledged by Niagara Bottling and the 262 jobs that Meijer had committed to the State. WisDOT would have full jurisdictional responsibility for, and would administer and oversee, the transportation improvements. Each company has already met their commitment to jobs in Wisconsin.